Saudi Arabia Unveils Revolutionary 'Smart Flock' System in Livestock Farming

In a bold leap toward the future of agriculture, Saudi Arabia has launched a groundbreaking technology poised to transform livestock farming as we know it. For the first time globally, the Kingdom is using an advanced Internet of Things (IoT)-driven system—dubbed the Saudi Smart Flock—to manage intensive livestock farms with unprecedented precision and efficiency.

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This pioneering move comes under the umbrella of Reef Saudi, the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, which is spearheading efforts to empower small-scale livestock breeders and revitalize animal farming across the nation. By blending tradition with technology, Reef Saudi is opening a new chapter in smart agriculture.

At the heart of this innovation lies a digital platform that doesn’t just monitor animals—it recognizes them. Using facial recognition technology, the system can identify each animal through front-facing imagery, allowing farmers to track the health, productivity, and well-being of their flocks in real time.

"This isn't just a technological upgrade—it’s a paradigm shift," said Majid Al-Buraikan, official spokesperson for Reef Saudi. "We're moving from reactive to proactive animal care, where data drives every decision."

The Saudi Smart Flock has already been tested across six small-scale farms in the Kingdom, proving its potential to optimize farm operations, reduce waste, and significantly boost productivity. Unlike conventional methods, this system offers farmers immediate insights into animal behavior, health issues, and performance trends—all from a single dashboard.

But beyond the tech lies a deeper purpose: empowering smallholder farmers. This initiative is designed to increase rural incomes, modernize livestock practices, and bolster national food security—ensuring that even the smallest farms can thrive in a high-tech future.

With this trailblazing step, Saudi Arabia isn’t just catching up with the world in agricultural innovation—it’s setting the pace.